ineffable memories / / bucky barnes

[ chapter twenty - two ]

TIME STAMP: PRESENT

Jealousy

Turning saints into the sea

Swimming through sick lullabies

Choking on your alibis

But it's just the price I pay

Destiny is calling me

Open up my eager eyes

'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside

The second part of the current mission started, in Kai's opinion, too soon but it could just be because she was still sore after Yelena's force. It had been a few days but still, her lip remained with a deep cut and Bucky remained pissed about the situation because he shouldn't show that he cared too much otherwise it could be bad for them.

"If you keep that grumpy face, you'll soon get wrinkles. It's not that desirable to have them." Kai teased Bucky low before John entered the room. "Are you ready?" She asked formally to both of them.

"Yeah, I'm ready. You guys wanna get over the mission again?" Walker asked, trying to be helpful.

"Not a lot to go over about." Bucky looked at the ceiling. "We go to the nightclub today to see who's there and who isn't and tomorrow we go and act like curious guests who want the best of the club." He said ironically.

"Is Sharon still going there to tell us what he knows?" Walker asked in a tone that made Bucky narrow his eyes.

"She's going there to tell me what she knows." Bucky shrugged but noticed how Kai's humor changed.

"We don't have time to waste." Kai said dryly before grabbing her jacket and leaving the room, leaving John confused and Bucky fighting a smile.

Kai had met Sharon before and she liked her, but there was something about the way Bucky talked that got under her skin. She wouldn't blame Sharon if there were something else behind Bucky's words, but she was allowed to be pissed off – or jealous.

Since they were picking up the outfits for tomorrow's mission on the way to the nightclub, Bucky was driving while Walker and Kai sat behind him, talking about random things to spare time.

"So, your name is Lafleur, right? I remember someone mentioned it." Walker asked and Kai nodded, remembering that Bucky was the one who asked.

"My adoptive parents were an American and French couple,  that's why my names are a bit mixed in the languages."

"What happened to your parents? If I can ask..."

"You shouldn't ask." Bucky replied before Kai said anything.

"Hey." Kai merely said to Bucky who rolled his eyes, pissed that they were getting along nicely. "It's a normal question."

"You don't have to answer it. It was just curiosity. " Walker justified himself.

"I know I don't have to and before do answer, to clarify, this doesn't mean we're friends." Kai sighed. "My mother was killed and I have no idea about what happened to my dad."

"I'm sorry to hear about that."

There was a common silence in the car until Bucky reached the place where they'd get the suits. Walker, sensing that he should give them a bit of space, offered to go, and as soon as he closed the door behind him, Bucky turned his neck to face Kai.

"Since when are you friends with Walker?" His tone was more jealous than mad which made Kai both annoyed and thoughtful.

"It was a normal question, James."

"I thought he was crossing the line."

"What are you complaining about? Aren't you going to see your friend Sharon, who's meeting us but only to tell you about what she knows?" Kai asked in a bittersweet tone, rolling her eyes.

"I thought you liked Sharon."

"I love her, that's not the point."

"What's the point then, Katherine?" Bucky sighed.

"The point is that you two seem very close and I'm allowed not to like it." Shrugging and feeling somewhat like the same girl she was when she first met James, Kai crossed her arms.

"You're jealous of Sharon?" Bucky asked, trying to contain his laugh.

"You were jealous of Walker, who's worse?"

"Hey, it's different." Bucky's smile disappeared.

"How is it different, James?"

"Because you spent so much time trying to get to me that maybe you got tired of it and decided to go to someone else."

"I swear I could slap you right now." Kai's tone got higher. "Are you that dumb? You're the one who doesn't remember loving me and you're worried I'll back off centuries later? You had your whole life, during the Winter Soldier and after you got out, to get someone, while I'm stuck in this hell of being in love with you centuries after!" Her voice was shakier than intended and she was pretty sure she was almost crying when she saw Bucky's expression soften up.

He was ready to reply (although he wasn't sure what to say) when the door opened, and John carefully put the suits on the passenger seat. Kai didn't say anything until they reached the nightclub and although the witch was the one spilling her guts out, Bucky was the one who wanted to cry.